 Network ArchitectureThis newsletter is sponsored by Meru NetworksNetwork World's Network Architecture Newsletter, 10/23/07The rationale for 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit EthernetBy Jeff CarusoThe case for 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet is most clearly spelled out in a recent white paper posted to the Web site of the Ethernet Alliance. In the paper (PDF), authors from Cisco, Infinera and Intel discuss the reasons behind the standards push for both speeds of Ethernet - not just from the perspective of service providers (their increasing bandwidth needs are well known), but also from a data center perspective. They don't really get into the politics that nearly hamstrung the Higher Speed Study Group, the disagreements over whether to go with one speed or the other. Instead, they take the end result - the decision to pursue both speeds as standards, within the same task force - and explain the reasons why there is desire to go after both.
The paper points to several applications that would necessitate 40Gbps or 100Gbps across short distances. For instance, the rise of multicore processors is cited as accelerating the need: "Multi-core processors are particularly valuable for multithreaded computing applications used in high-performance compute (HPC) clusters where many servers are networked together to execute large computing tasks through parallel processing." Such processors also mean more consolidation on fewer servers, servers that will require greater bandwidth needs. The paper also sees networked storage as a pressing application, and a higher-speed Ethernet could accelerate the deployment of converged storage and data networks, something I touched on last time. The paper also notes that 40 Gigabit Ethernet would have physical-layer interfaces to cover distances "inside the data center up to 100m for inclusion in a full range of server form factors including blade, rack, and pedestal." Meanwhile, 100 Gigabit Ethernet would have physical interfaces for data-center networking, but it would also potentially stretch to up to 40 kilometers over single-mode fiber. Lastly, the white paper says that the standard could be complete by 2010.
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| Contact the author: Jeff Caruso is managing editor of online news for Network World. He oversees daily online news posting and newsletter editing, and writes the NetFlash daily news summary, the High-Speed LANs newsletter and the Voices of Networking newsletter. Contact him at jcaruso@nww.com This newsletter is sponsored by Meru NetworksARCHIVEArchive of the Network Architecture Newsletter. BONUS FEATUREIT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICESTo subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007 |
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